Chanting anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans, thousands of
demonstrators returned
to the streets in central Basra in ongoing film protests. The group
marched for more than an hour today, while police and soldiers looked on. They
also carried portraits of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is neighboring Iran’s
supreme leader, giving credence
to the belief that Iranian-backed groups were behind the march. A French
publication’s satirical depiction of the prophet Muhammad was also excoriated.
The demonstration follows others both in Basra and elsewhere in Iraq. On
Wednesday, hundreds protested
in Karbala.

Meanwhile, at least 13 Iraqis were killed and nine more
were wounded in attacks.